Mail-box.



'PATENTED JUNE 16, 1903.

3 A, JONES,

MAIL BQX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC). 23, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

1 Vi/UWMA OQ,

page.

NMEU b 'ra rns Patented June 16, 1903.

Parana. omen.

lidAlL EUX S'PECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 731,372, dated June 16, 1903.

Application filed December 23, 1902. Serial No. 136,379.

To alt whom it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL A. JONES, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Dash.-

ler, in the county of Henry and State ofOhio, have invented a new and which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that class of mail'boxes used in the rural mail delivery system in this country, and more especially to those which include in their make-up a stationary cover member, beneath which is journaled a receptacle member having an entrance-opening in its walls, which is arranged to be placed beneath, and thus closed by the cover member.

'It is the object of the present invention to provide avery simple though eii'ective sig nal for this class of boxes, which may be easily placed in operative position by the depositor of mail and will be securely locked in such position when the box is closed, be ing released, however, and automatically dropping to inoperative and unexposed po-' sition upon the openingof the box by the collector, thus causing him no delay by overcoming the necessity for his separately moving said signal.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view'of the improved box, showing the signal in its operative position. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of thesame with the box open andthe signal in inoperative position. Fig. ,3 is a vertical sectional view through the end ofthe box carrying the signal. 1

Similar reference-munerals indicate corresponding parts in all the'figures of-tlledraw- In the present embodiment the box proper is made up of two members-a cover 10 and a receptacle l1--both of which are preferablyconstructcd of sheet metal.

The cover member 10 consists of a roof formed of oppositely-sloping sides 12, having at their lower edges outturned beads 13, fornr ing eaves-troughs. Secured beneath and to the ends of the roof are gables 14, having outstanding flanges 15, fastened by rivets 16 to the roof. The cover is supported by a bracket comprising upstanding arme'll, rivuseful M:21ll-BOX,Of

wall

which is provided with a signal 27,

a substantially U-shaped (No model.)

eted to the gables at their upper ends and having their lower ends connected by a horizon tal bar 18, provided with an intermediate twisted portion 19, which is adapted to be placed fiat against a suitable post 20 and bolted thereto in the manner shown.

The receptacle member 11 is substantially cylindrical in form, comprising end caps 21, to which is suitably fastened an annular 22, the ends of this well being spaced l apart to provide a suitable entrance-opening and having oulturned beads 23. This receptacle member is journaled beneath the cover member, and to this end trunnions 24 are fastened in the upright arms 17, the caps 21 will thus be apparent that the receptacle member may be revolved, sothat the en-' trance-opening will be closed by thecover member 10 and the interior of the box thus completely inclosed againstthe ingress of moisture, or by rotating the receptacle memher in an opposite directioh it maybe opened for the insertion or removal of mail, a suitable handle 25 being provided for conveniently operating the member.

Pivoted between its. ends to the end. of the cover 10 is a signal-arm 26, the outer end of ,preferably, though not necessarily, in the form ofa' disk and colored, so that it may be readily seen. It will be noted that the pivot 28 of the arm is located above the pivot-axis of the receptacle member, so that when the signal being revoluble upon these trunnions. -It

27 is elevated it will be exposed at one side of the mail-box and when dropped it will be in line therewith, as shown in Fig.2. signal is held in its elevated position bya supporting device mounted upon the adjacent end of the receptacle memberand carried by a portion of the locking means for the box. This means includes a projectipg tongue 29, secured to the end of the covormember, and clip 30, fastened to the end of the receptacle member, the outer terminal 31 of this clip constituting a tongue which coacts with the tongue 29 when the receptacle member is in closed position, said tongues having openings 32 therein arranged to receive a suitable padlock, as indicated in Fig. l. The inner terminal 33 of the clip constitutes a projecting lug which is so arranged The f too ' the tongues 29 and 31.

that it may be placed over the inner end of the signal-arm, and thus support the signal in its elevated position as long, as the mailbox is closed. In the preferred construction the outer end 3406 the adjacent trunnion 24 projects beyond the arm 17 and is located in the path of movement of the inner end of the signal-arm 26, and therefore the lug 33and the projecting end 34 of the journal constitute keepers between which the signal-arm may be secured. As long as there is no mail deposited in the box for collection, the signal is in its inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 2, in which case it being in line with the box is not prominently displayed. After mail has been placed in the box for collection the de-' positor as he closes said box firstelevates the signal to the position shown in Fig. 1, and thus when the box is locked said signal will be secured in operative position, notifying the collector of the presence of mail. In removing this mail the collector must necessarily rotate the receptacle member to its open position, whereupon the lug 33 will be moved away from the lower end of the signalarm and the signal will automatically drop to its inoperative position. Said lug, furthermore, constitutes a stop that strikes the adjaccnt arm 17 of the bracket, and thus limits the range of.movement of the receptacle in one direction, the Li shaped bracket also striking against the edge of the gable in closing the receptacle, thereby properly alining It will be apparent that this structure is very simple in its makeup, though it is entirely efficient, as it does not delay the collector, and, furthermore, the signal is securely fastened in its operative position against accidental movement to an inoperative station.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing anyof the advantages of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a mail-box, the combination with a stationary cover member, of a rotatable receptacle member jo'urnaled beneath the cover member, a signalpivoted to the cover member, a'nd holding means carried by the receptacle and arranged to engage the signal to hold the same elevated when the receptacle member is closed, said means being movable out of engagement with the signal when the receptacle member is rotated to open position, to permit the dropping of said signal.

2. In a mail-box, the combination with a stationary cover member, of a rotatable receptacle member journaled beneath the cover member, a signal pivoted above the journalaxis of the receptacle member and arranged to swing downwardly into line with the end of the same, and holding means carried by the receptacle member and arranged to engage the signal to hold the same elevated when the receptacle is closed, said means being movable out of engagement with the signal to release the same when the receptacle member is rotated to open position.

In a mail-box, the combination with a stationary-cover member, of a rotatable receptacle member journaled beneath the cover.

member, a signal arm pivoted between its ends atone end of the cover member and carrying a signal at its outer end, and holding means carried by the receptacle member and arranged to engage the inner end of the arm to hold the signal in a predetermined exposed position when the receptacle is closed, said means disengaging the signal to permit the same to drop when the receptacle is rotated to open position. I

4:. In a mail-box, the combination with a cover member, of a signal-arm pivoted atone end of the cover member, said arm carrying a signal at its outer end that can be arranged in elevated position, a rotatable receptacle member journ aled beneath the cover member, and a lug projecting from the end of the receptacle member and constituting a support that engages the inner end of the arm to hold the signal in elevated position.

5. In a mail-box, the combination with a cover member, of a signal-arm pivoted at one end of the cover member, said arm carrying a signal at its outer end that can be arranged in elevated position, a rotatable receptacle member journaled beneath the cover mem-' her, and a lug projecting from the end ofthe receptacle member and constituting a support that engages the inner end of the arm to hold the signal in elevated position, said lug being movable away from the inner end of the arm upon the rotation of the receptacle member to open position.

(3. In-a mail-box, the combination with a cover member and a receptacle member, of a signal movably mounted on the box and arranged to be placed in a predetermined exposed position, and locking means for the cover and receptacle members, said locking means including a support for the signal which automatically disengages therefrom when the box is opened to release said signal.

7. In a mail-box, the combination with a cover member and a receptacle member, of a movable signal arranged to be placed in a predetermined exposed position, and locking means for the cover and receptacle members,- said means carrying a lug that engages the signal to support the same and is detachable therefrom when the box is opened to release said signal. 1

8. In a mail-box, the combination with a cover member having a locking-tongue, of a receptacle member, a movable signal arranged 1; 2a :31 wvm: Hummer, thra other Warming; a EWOJDGUUUIQ Rug mm; engages u 4'10 support the sauna.

EL nmii.bm:, the mmnhiuation with a man; mgnal-zunl pivoted at the 0nd Mover member, and a lag carried by nawivacle member, sax-id lug and mum mnstiafinfiingzf kaeper's between which the "vm may be secured when Eahw 11290;}

n 010 ad position,

g :1 project- 1,3'5 1G In a Lnnii-lfmtv, than 'mn'zhinatiou with x'aizatively nmmifie r-meptzmi 1 MM membem, of & nwvnfifle k m1, and means (am-Fwd hyone of the mmnbers 101" 110mm "1 in a wedatermMM positiun, mu 283,83 Emtomabicaiiy disengaging also constituting an stop m limit the move-- YDUDE of the member when Hm box is QQBHELL In tastimony iih i; I claim the foregoing: my own I have hereto affixer'l my @igmamre: in the presence of 2m Witnesses SAMUEL A. JON ES,

fie Signal .mm Mm signal and 

